I DO NOT OWN SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA. SHOUTOUT TO NIMLOTH OF THAY FOR THEIR REVIEWS.
House of Batiatus. Capua, Roman Republic. The next day.
Flavius spent the remainder of the night in the company of the medicus to treat the wounds that the claws of the black bear had inflicted. As the medicus did his best to alleviate the pain brought upon the former Roman, Diona made her way into the workplace of the Medicus, eager to see how her most precious champion was feeling after his epic showdown with the black beast.
"How does the son of Mars fare?" The body slave asked with concern in her voice.
"He will live, but there will be scars that shall remain until Pluto calls him to the afterlife." The medicus answered as he finished applying a mixture of herbs to the affected areas. When the medicus had finished his work, Diona immediately went to Flavius's side and embraced him tightly.
"It stings a bit yet." Flavius muttered with a grimace as he pressed his lips to hers.
"The Legatus is a fucking beast, how does a sole act of disobedience drive a man to such madness?" Diona asked, unable to comprehend Septimus's unholy wrath towards the gladiator.
"I do not know...the man is possessed by sadism and rage." Flavius reasoned as he gladly took whatever comfort that Diona could offer him. "Sometimes...I find myself wondering if I should have obeyed command given. Doing so would have spared me and those I love great pain."
"But then your hands would have been stained with the blood of innocents." Diona countered as she caressed the face of her one true love. "You know as well as I that if you had set your hands to such an evil task...you would not have been able to live with yourself."
"You speak the truth." Flavius conceded while the two kissed deeply. Diona was more than happy to hold her lover in her arms and kiss the man's pain away as he did for her throughout the suffering forced upon her by the house of Batiatus.
The Next Day.
Flavius was conflicted as he worked the palus. Early that morning, his beloved Diona had brought news of Gaia's death at the hands of Tullius. While he had never wished for the woman's blood to be spilled, but if he and Diona were being completely honest with both themselves and each other...they were deeply relieved that Gaia took to bed no more; in this life at least. Now that she was gone, Flavius would no longer have to act as her stud horse and he could reserve his cock for Diona and Diona alone. His train of thought was soon interrupted by the crack of Doctore's whip.
"Gladiators, attend!" Doctore shouted as the gladiators came together. "Your dominus has ordered that contest be held to determine who stands the highest in this ludus. You will all spar to determine rank. Those who rank high shall remain, those who rank low shall be sold to the mines."
"The fuck is this?" Ashur whispered to Flavius as everyone looked shocked at the idea that they could possibly be sent to the mines after all of the work that they had put in on earning the mark of the brotherhood; to represent the house of Batiatus on the sands of the arena.
"Gnaeus, Pollux! Take position!" Doctore announced as the first match took place that ended in a victory for the net wielding Gnaeus. Flavius's first fight was against Barca which he won solidly. His second fight was against Gnaeus which he also won. His 3rd fight was against Ashur. Flavius knew that Ashur was not faring the best in the contest, so he allowed him a win to boost his rankings; for which the Syrian was most appreciative.
"Duratius, Crixus! Take position!" Doctore called once again as the new pair sized each other up. "Begin!" The match ended in a victory for the undefeated Gaul. A few matches later, the well endowed Celt landed his first victory.
"Gannicus, you are the Victor." Doctore declared as Gannicus stood triumphantly over the defeated.
"I nearly had you." Barca snapped as he got to his feet.
"Nearly." Gannicus replied as he walked away, leaving the Syrians to fight next. Flavius could see that Ashur was pleading for Dagan to take it easy on him and that Dagan was going to fuck him up bad. The former Roman silently prayed to Mars to grant his friend a victory as the battle started.
"Asher, Dagan, Take position." Doctore commanded as the Syrians took their places. "Begin!" Dagan immediately launched into his attack. Ashur tried desperately to fight off his former brother, but to no avail. Dagan was fueled by his rage after being forced to be a Roman's sex slave. Eventually, Ashur was knocked down and Dagan held him at sword point. Ashur begged to Dagan and the Syrian seemed to consider Ashur's words. Once Dagan's guard had dropped, Ashur delivered a swift strike to Dagan's balls. The large Syrian roared in tremendous pain as Ashur delivered a massive strike with his sword to Dagan's left eye. Blood spewed out as all of the gladiators could see that the left eye was damaged beyond any hope of repair. Dagan fell to his knees as any fight that he had possessed seemed to be literally knocked out of him. Ashur had a look of satisfaction as he locked eyes with his fellow gladiators.
"Ashur, fucking victor!" The Syrian shouted as he raised his broken sword in glory as only Flavius applauded his dear friend. As Ashur towered over the broken and bleeding Dagan, Titus Lentulus Batiatus arrived on the balcony to address his titans.
"The day's contest is over." He cried out to the gladiators. "Rest and tend to wounds. Tomorrow brings end of contest and appropriate reckoning."
REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED